"Go and see if the Hundred-Eyed Giant Toad is in the pool!"
Hiding on the outskirts of the toad's lair, the group stayed alert for any sudden danger. Wu Qing, his eyes brimming with malice, pointed at Xiaodao and barked the command.
"I'll go instead."
Though Xiaodao hadn't protested, Chen An unexpectedly volunteered, taking on the dangerous task himself.
This wasn't an act of altruism. If trouble arose, who would protect who was still up for debate? Chen An simply wanted to get a closer look at the Hundred-Eyed Giant Toad and assess its strength. After all, this would be critical for devising a strategy to hunt it down upon returning to the sect.
He was confident that, no matter the risk, he could escape unscathed—and if worst came to worst, there was always the option of using Wu Qing and Guo Feng as decoys.
Wu Qing, oblivious to Chen An's true intentions, was satisfied with his willingness to take on the peril. He nodded approvingly.
"Good brother, when this is over, I'll make sure you're well rewarded."
"Thank you, Brother Wu," Chen An replied, bowing with a faint, unreadable smile.
Quietly, he approached the murky pool. No one noticed the talismans clutched in his hand—escape and agility talismans that guaranteed a swift retreat to safety, no matter the peril.
"Steady…"
Taking careful, deliberate steps, Chen An made his way forward. A distance that would normally take moments to cross stretched into several agonizing minutes. Finally reaching the edge of the pool, he peered in—and the sight before him sent shivers down his spine.
The Hundred-Eyed Giant Toad lay at the bottom of the pool.
Its massive body stretched over ten zhang (30+ meters) in length, and even crouched, its height reached two zhang (6+ meters). Its body was covered in bulbous, oozing nodules, each the size of a human head, each containing a single enormous eye.
The toad's many eyes were closed, giving no indication it had noticed Chen An.
Now that he had seen it up close, Chen An was certain: hunting this beast wasn't just a matter of strength or preparation. The gap between their capabilities was insurmountable.
Even standing near the creature made his entire body tremble uncontrollably. Cold sweat drenched him. How could he hope to fight it, let alone kill it?
Chen An knew this matter would require a longer-term strategy. For now, retreat was the only option.
Carefully, he began backing away. Despite his utmost caution, something disturbed the toad. In an instant, the nodules on its back split open, revealing hundreds of glinting eyes. A wave of oppressive malice washed over him.
The murky waters began to churn violently. Feeling a deathly sense of crisis, Chen An didn't hesitate—he activated multiple escape talismans, reappearing beside Guo Feng and Wu Qing in the blink of an eye.
The Hundred-Eyed Giant Toad leaped from the water in a single bound, soaring dozens of zhang into the air. It seemed to block out the sky itself before crashing to the ground with a deafening roar.
**Boom!**
The ground quaked violently, leaving everyone rooted in terror. Only Chen An's urgent shout snapped them out of their daze.
"Run!"
His command jolted Wu Qing and Guo Feng into action. Without a second thought, they turned and fled.
Chen An, meanwhile, no longer bothered to feign weakness. Activating talismans on both legs, he surged forward with incredible speed. Even so, he was only the second fastest among the group.
Leading the pack was none other than Xiaodao.
It confirmed Chen An's suspicions—Xiaodao had been hiding his true cultivation all along. Judging by the sheer density of his spiritual energy, he was likely close to the late stages of Qi Condensation, the most powerful among them.
Wu Qing and Guo Feng, still reeling, couldn't fathom how the frail boy they had berated and bullied could possess such strength. But there was no time for questions—the Hundred-Eyed Giant Toad was closing in.
With every leap, the toad cleared dozens of zhang. Its colossal tongue lashed out like a stone pillar, obliterating everything in its path—trees, rocks, all reduced to dust.
From its numerous eyes spewed a toxic miasma. Everything it touched—poisonous beasts and plants alike—was reduced to pools of corrosive sludge.
Seeing no chance of escape, Chen An made a decisive move. He grabbed Guo Feng by the collar and hurled him directly into the toad's path.
Wu Qing froze in shock. It wasn't the sight of Chen An's sudden burst of strength that unnerved him—it was the realization that he could have been the one thrown.
Chen An didn't care about Wu Qing's thoughts. His focus was entirely on the toad. The beast caught Guo Feng mid-air with its tongue and swallowed him whole. This brief distraction slowed the toad's pursuit, buying the group precious moments to flee.
But then, Chen An spotted a shadow darting toward the toad. It was Xiaodao!
What was he thinking? Did he believe he could slay the monster?
Chen An soon realized Xiaodao's true intention.
Leaping onto the toad's back, Xiaodao plunged a dagger into one of its massive eyes.
The toad bellowed in pain, thrashing violently. Toxic fluids rained down, corroding everything they touched. Yet Xiaodao nimbly dodged each drop, retreating just as swiftly as he had attacked.
The toad, now visibly hesitant, ceased its pursuit. Despite its overwhelming power, it seemed unwilling to continue the chase after losing an eye. After devouring Guo Feng, it returned to its lair.
Even so, Chen An and the others didn't stop running. Not until they reached the outskirts of the Poison Swamp did they dare to pause and catch their breath.
For now, they were safe—but the image of the Hundred-Eyed Giant Toad, and Xiaodao's daring act, lingered vividly in Chen An's mind.